Providing Retirement Security for Maryland’s Horsemen Since 1988

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) is proud to offer one of the most valuable benefits available to Maryland’s backstretch workforce—the Backstretch Pension Program. Established in 1988, the program helps provide financial security in retirement for the hardworking men and women who dedicate their careers to the care and training of Thoroughbred racehorses.
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Funded entirely through annual contributions from the Purse Account, the pension program requires no direct financial contributions from participants.
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Enrollment is conducted each spring through the MTHA’s online pension portal. Eligible employees must register annually in order to receive pension credit and benefits based on the previous calendar year.
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Anyone employed in the care of horses on the backstretch—including trainers—is eligible to participate. To qualify, an individual must have worked a minimum of 1,000 hours during the applicable year and provide documentation verifying those earnings and employment, such as a W-2, 1099, or tax return.
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Pension benefits become available at age 65, or as early as age 55 for participants with at least 25 years of qualifying service.
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In recent years, the MTHA Board of Directors has approved annual contributions of $1 million to strengthen the program and help ensure its long-term success. The MTHA has also partnered with John Hancock, providing participants with secure online and mobile access to monitor account balances, track performance, and manage investment options.
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For questions regarding your individual pension account, please contact Alison Bach at Pollard & Associates at 443-689-2549.
Have questions about eligibility, enrollment, or benefits?

To sign up visit: http://backstretchpension.com